Arizona Diamondbacks, Mark Reynolds agree to 3 years, $14.5 million

by Nick Piecoro - Mar. 15, 2010 10:33 PMThe Arizona Republic

TUCSON - Third baseman Mark Reynolds knew he probably shouldn't have been talking about it - and he did attempt to bite his tongue a little Monday afternoon - but it seemed as if his relief and excitement about agreeing to terms on a new contract won out during a moment with reporters.

"If it gets done," he said, knowing full well that his three-year, $14.5 million deal is almost certain to be completed in the next day or so, "it's a relief."

Less than two weeks after striking a $51.25 million deal with their young franchise cornerstone, right fielder Justin Upton, the Diamondbacks gained cost certainty with another homegrown talent in Reynolds, whose skill set had the potential to cost a lot in baseball's arbitration process.

The deal could cover all three years of Reynolds' arbitration eligibility if the club exercises an $11 million option for 2013. Once finalized, Reynolds will receive a $1 million signing bonus and make salaries of $500,000 this year, $5 million in 2011 and $7.5 million in 2012. The option year includes a $500,000 buyout.

The deal has yet to be finalized, as the sides are working through contract language.

"Honestly, no," Reynolds, 26, said, when asked if he ever expected baseball to make him a millionaire. "I was a 16th-rounder. I never had the big signing bonus or anything. I worked my tail off, and I'm taking it to where I am right now, and I'm hoping it pays off."

The motivations from each side explain why the deal got done.

Reynolds, who received a $50,000 signing bonus coming out of Virginia, has earned around the minimum salary every season he has been in the major leagues, and although that's not chump change, it isn't the set-for-life money this deal will bring. He also won't have to deal with the pressure and anxiety that accompanies going year-to-year in the arbitration process.

Even if the club exercises the option, Reynolds would hit free agency after 2013, the same time he would as if a deal never was done.

For the club, Reynolds' 44 home runs and 102 RBIs from 2009 are the sort of numbers that can cost dearly in arbitration. By locking in the prices now, they're gambling that Reynolds will remain a productive hitter but are defending against the potential cost of more 40-homer seasons.

Negotiations had been ongoing for about a month, starting in the days before spring training. Reynolds seemed surprised by the amount of back-and-forth involved in the process and bemoaned the distraction that negotiations had created.

His big-league career has been fascinating. An injury to Brian Barden in Triple-A opened the door for him to get called to the majors from Double-A in May 2007. He had success immediately, helping the club to the playoffs.

Though he remained productive (28 homers, 97 RBIs) in 2008, he also led the National League in errors and strikeouts. But he increased his production significantly last season and cut down on his mistakes defensively.